Caol Ila 2009 The Single Malts of Scotland 11 yo c. 317838

 

 

 

58,8°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

There are three different Caol Ila barrels distilled in 2009 and bottled by Elixir Distillers 11 years later. This is why I mention the cask number. However, this is the only one that was bottled in 2020, after exactly 11 years and 7 days. The others were put on the market in 2021. This one, hence the earliest, gave 300 bottles exactly. The policy at The Single Malts of Scotland is to bottle at "the optimum strength", not Cask Strength. That said, this is most definitely a cask strength, 300 bottles with a rather high alcohol content, I wonder what they could have diluted.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's fresh, the iodine is intense but well managed, with a lovely pungent lemon and a vague enticing peat. Oysters, whelks, sea breeze, it's salty, with seaweed and foam, the usual ingredients on Islay. Bitter wood, grapefruit, a drop of rum. Tall herbs, dry hay. With water, it softens a little. Intoxicating smoke. Apricot purée, crumble. Relatively light on the palate, but pleasant, lemony, vanilla flavoured, spicy, cumin, paprika, grey pepper. A few maritime touches, boutargues and shellfish. Cola, fig cream. The finish is long, fairly powerful but also well controlled, settling slowly. Nutmeg, heather, fine herbs, a little earthy, sparkling, charcoal. Marrons glacés.

 

In Short, 

It's a classic Caol Ila, well crafted, with intense iodine and a little sweetness. You barely smell the peat, but the iodine, you can smell it. We talk about Peat Bombs and Sherry Bombs, I wonder if we shouldn't mention the Iodine Bombs too. If you like the profile, and that's my case, you have a good time. The good news is that it's not expensive and it's not quite sold out, it can still be found on some European sites. Frankly, it's worth thinking about, a purchase would be appropriate. That's what's good about this range, they come out with high-flying killers, but also simpler things, and they don't hesitate to please the most humble enthusiasts.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dirtwater - Mountain Man